Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-22
JOHN AND DAISY.
How They Succeeded in Paying
Their Debts.

John Ramsay was working on his
farm, his careless, loose dress display
ing to advantage his tall, muscular
figure, and broad straw hat shaded a
handsome face, with large dark eyes
set beneath forehead whose breadth
and height indicated a powerful brain.
The hands that guided the plow were
strong hands, but whittier and more
delicate than such pursuits usually
allow.
Daisy Hale sat watching him. Her
dress was print, but made with
flounces on the skirt and ruffles on the
waist. Her short golden hair was
curlcd into a fringe carefully over her
forehead. and gathered in longer curls
into a comb behind. above which was
a very jaunty hat, covered with puffs
of white muslin and bows of blue
ribbon to match the spots upon her
dress.
The face under Daisy's hat was
gloomy, not to say cross. A very
pretty face. but not pleasant. having a
petted, spoiled-child frOwn. ard a
brooding discomfort in the large blue
eyes.
Presently the farmer drew near her.
and taking off his hat, famed himself
with it, stopping his horses while he
leaned indolently against the pillow.
You look deliciously cool under
this great tree" he said. "And-
hem!-very much dressed for nine
O'Clock in the morning.
''ln iivepenny calico!' she said.
contemptuously. when are you
coming IMP"
..At noon. to dinner"
ut is too absurd" she broke out.
angry tears in her eyes. '.for you to be
blowing. and hoeing, and milking
cows. and doing the work of a laboring
man! l thought when you came home
from college you would do something
besides work on farm"
'.And let the farm go to ruin. That
would be poor way to pay my
debts"
Your debts!'' she said. looking
astonished. do you owe debts?''
Certainly! You and I are both
very heavily in debt. Daisy. 1 think
when Aunt Mary took us in. poor little
orphans. | her nephew, you her second
cousin"
Third COUSIN" she interrupted,
''Since you are SO particulars! know
what you mean, but l am very sure
that Aunt Mary never intended US to
drudge on the hOrrid old FARM
'.Do you know that all the money
she saved in life of hard work was
spent upon our education? Do you
know that she has nothing now but
the farm. and that to. take her away
from it would probably shorten her
life?"
''She always has taken care of it
herself"
''Are you blind that you can not see
how the four years she has been alone
here have aged her, how feeble she is?
While we were living at ease at col
lege and school,. she has tOiled for lis
until she is wearied out"
'.But you could send her money. if
You We're in the city in some gentle
manly occupation"
perhaps so, ten or twelve years
from now. To-day l propose to work
this farm, and see how many bushels
of corn can raise on it!'
He took hold of the plow-handles AS
he spoke. started the horses. aud left
her. her eyes full of angry tears
He might as well have said what
he meant" she thought, springing
down and starting for the house. HE
thinks l ought TO cook. and wash. and
make butter, and work like a servant
girl. when have studied SO hard and
tried to make myself lady. that he
might not be ashamed of me-"
And yet in her heart, she knew that
he was ashamed of her. and that she
deserved it Ashamed that she could
sit in her room, selishly engrossed in
making pretty articles of dress, or
reading, while her cousin, or. as she,
too. called her. Aunt Mary. worked in
the kitchen. the dairy. the poultry
yard. from days dawn till night.
She was not all selfishness and
heartlessness. though there had grown
a thick crust of both over her better
nature. Her ideas of ladies and gentle
men depended largely upon clothing